Who Will Build Our House?

We had just burned down the house. We were in the whirlwind of finding house plans that fit our dream – with just a few days to finalize what our farmhouse would look like.

So, we decided to go on vacation.

What?!

You don’t think that’s normal either? I sure didn’t.

Barry had a work convention in Hawaii we had known about for 6 months. With his extensive travel schedule, we booked flights with his points and were looking forward to some time away. Introducing Gabrielle to the Pacific Ocean would be a highlight. And an entire week as a family, that miracle hadn’t transpired in a year.

At this point in our Jesus led adventure, I considered not going. I needed to stay in town and focus on plans and make sure the footings were set properly and the foundation was laid for our new home.

But I had to go on vacation so I could answer the question. “Who will build our house?”

This wasn’t about our contractor or the qualification of the trades. The answer I needed revealed wasn’t about the physical labor but the the Person behind all of the vision and dreams and plans and desires. I wasn’t going to build our farmhouse, God was.

So, we left for Hawaii just a few days after we burned down the house, knowing the builder would be pouring the foundation while we were gone.

As we took off on our flight, I handed the keys to our new home over to the Lord. He could do a perfect job of being the foundation for our home – the cornerstone that we would not reject.

It was such a gift – of freedom and rest. My Heavenly Father knew I would need time away to slow down, reflect on what was really happening and experience His love like only I can at the beach. He knows me so well. His timing was so sweet and thoughtful to us.

I had moments of sheer guilt. Who gets to build a brand new home, have a prayer come to reality and go on a paradise vacation with their family? Why me, Lord? Why have you chosen to bless us with this story?

I still don’t know why, but I know I’m thankful.

Filled with grateful thanks for Him designing the desires and planting them in my heart. Changing our desires to match each others’. Giving us a dream to work on together. And reminding us along the way that He created paradise and would give us a portion of heaven on earth with the land He promised us.

I knew God would build our house. And He would do a much better job than we ever could.

But I was still anxious to get back to the mainland to see what the foundation of our farmhouse looked like. Maybe a little nervous, too.